Before and behind

“For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward.” - Isaiah 52v12

In Isaiah 52 the Lord is commissioning His people to do their work for Him. He knows and they know that it is going to be a difficult task. He knows, and they know that they are going to face opposition. As they go out God gives them tremendous words of comfort – “You need not run in fear as you go out and here is the reason – ‘The Lord (Yahweh) will go before you and the God (Elohim) of Israel will be bring up the rear for you.”

God’s lays down a wonderful, comfortable, encouraging image. As we go out today God is not only leading us into battle, but He is also “watching our backs.” The enemy cannot get to us because God go ahead and at the same time guards us from the rear. How is this possible? Simple enough – God is God. He can be everywhere at once. Psalm 139 makes it even clearer, God is before, behind, and all around.

As we go out in our service for the Lord, lets do so with great courage. God is leading us into the battle, but, at the same time, we is indeed “watching our backs.” What more could we want.